Seismic activity predictor in proximity with the earth including a dielectric for receiving precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms

ABSTRACT

A method of detecting precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms and predicting future seismic activity in the form of an earthquake by placing a detector including a dielectric material in contact with the earth. The detector receives at the dielectric material precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms traveling within the earth emanating from a region of seismic activity. A sensor responsive to the dielectric material senses a series of individual discrete signals imposed by the waveforms at the dielectric material wherein each of the signals has the characteristic of a rise time that is shorter than its fall time. Alternatively, the discrete signals may be a single discrete signal characterized by a plurality of overlapping waveforms. Then predicting based on the series of the signals the occurrence of the earthquake.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 08/743,909 filed Nov. 4, 1996, U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,166.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic detector system, andin particular a seismic electromagnetic detector system suitable todetect precursor electromagnetic waveforms of earthquakes.

Often a devastating toll in life and property is taken by earthquakes.It has long been recognized that the toll could be reduced if peoplewithin an impending quake's focal area were warned to prepare. Althoughpreparations are unlikely to prevent structural damage to commercial andresidential buildings, or to infrastructure such as bridges androadways, preparation could reduce deaths and serious injuries by peopleseeking appropriate shelter or retreating from dangerous locations, suchas unreinforced brick buildings. Moreover, preparation is likely toreduce the psychological trauma often attributable to an earthquake'ssudden onslaught. In addition, preparation will likely reduce personalproperty causality, such as that related to structural or utilityfailures, and the fires often associated therewith. Accordingly, it isdesirable to forecast the occurrence of earthquakes.

An earthquake's toll results from the seismic waves defining theearthquake. Seismic waves include two types: body waves and surfacewaves. Body waves comprise primary (or P) waves and secondary (or S)waves that propagate within the earth's body. P waves are longitudinalwaves that alternately push (compress) and pull (dilate) the ground inthe direction of propagation. S waves are transverse waves that shearthe ground in planes perpendicular to the direction of propagation.

Surface waves comprise Love waves and Rayleigh waves that propagate ator near the earth's surface. Love waves shear the ground sideways atright angles to the direction of propagation, much like S waves, butwithout S waves' vertical shearing. Rayleigh waves displace the earthboth vertically and horizontally in a vertical plane that lies in thedirection of propagation, whereby a particle of earth will travel anelliptical path as the wave passes, much like a water molecule inrolling ocean waves.

Body waves travel more rapidly than surface waves. Of the surface waves,Love waves generally travel faster than Rayleigh waves and, of the bodywaves, P waves generally travel faster than S waves. When an earthquakeis occurring, the P waves are felt first, like a thud or blow, andthereafter the S waves arrive, as indicated by up-and-down andside-to-side motion. Thereafter, the surface waves strike, causing theground to shake side-to-side and to roll.

The body and surface waves generally are monitored during an earthquaketo gauge the earthquake's intensity. Being contemporaneous with anddefining earthquakes, these waves cannot be used for forecasting.Forecasting relies on identification of other physical parameters that,in their occurrence or variance, indicate an impending earthquake. Theseparameters, when indicating an impending earthquake, are sometimesreferred to herein as "precursor seismic activity."

As reported by an article written by Evelyn Roeloffs, a team in 1989from Stanford University happened to be listening for low-frequencymagnetic noise in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco with alarge coil. On September 12, they noticed an unusual signal with aperiod between 5 and 20 seconds, which was followed by a backgroundnoise increase October 5. On October 17, the background noise rose to ahigh level, and three hours later the magnitude 7.1 Loma Prietaearthquake hit, rocking the San Francisco Bay area. The earthquake wascentered less than five miles from their measurement coil. Since then,one explanation after another for these noise increases have beeneliminated, leaving open the possibility that they truly were earthquakeprecursors. Hoping to repeat the experiment, they have deployed threesimilar instruments in California, two of them near Parkfield which is asite of intensive earthquake prediction research. Electromagneticprecursors are a controversial subject worldwide. An international groupof scientists continues to deliberate whether "seismic electric signals"recorded in Greece are precursors to earthquakes. But there is growingconsensus that the Earth's electrical resistance decreased inassociation with the 1976 Tangshan, China, earthquake. The article goeson to state that as with all potential earthquake prediction techniques,there won't be significant progress until a good-sized earthquakehappens in a closely monitored location.

It would appear that the Stanford detector may have detected precursorsto the Loma Prieta earthquake so its design has been the basis forfurther earthquake prediction devices. The Stanford detector is a largecoil of wire designed to be resonant in the range of approximately 1-30hertz. To obtain sensitivity within this range the number of coils andthe core for the coils are both selected accordingly. Unfortunately,such a coil is also sensitive to man-made noise, lightning andelectromagnetic fields from storms and atmosphere. Accordingly, theStanford detector needs to be located in remote areas to minimize thedetection of extraneous noise. Furthermore, other researchers have haddifficulties using the Stanford detector to detect any precursoractivity to earthquakes, let alone actually predict earthquakes, so itwould appear that the Stanford detector would need to be located nearthe epicenter of a large earthquake to be effective.

Varotsos et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,506, disclose a method offorecasting earthquakes as a function of transient variations inelectric earth current. Varotsos discovered that the electric currentswhich normally flow in the earth, termed telluric currents, undergotransient changes or variations of a specific nature or character attimes before the occurrence of an earthquake. Specifically, Varotsosfound that earthquakes are preceded by a first transient variation intelluric earth current measurable as a voltage on the order of hundredsof microvolts per earth-meter having about one minute duration thatoccurs from six to eight hours before the quake, and a second transientchange in earth current measurable as a voltage on the order of tens ofmillivolts per earth-meter having a duration of a few milliseconds andoccurring between thirty seconds and four minutes before the quake.While such a method is useful for prediction of impending earthquakes,the detection of precursor electromagnetic seismic activity only up toeight hours before a quake is an inadequate length of time to warn thepublic.

Varotsos' detection system involves the simultaneous measurement ofpre-earthquake long waves or earth currents at a number of points in theearth by using multiple elongated conductive cylinders. Morespecifically, the pre-earthquake long waves or earth currents aremeasured simultaneously at two or more points on the earth surface. Eachof the cylinders measures a transitory current that propagates in thecrust. The distance that the waves travel in the earth between cylindersresults in a small voltage drop of the waves between them. Anoperational amplifier produces a signal which is the differentialpotential between the cylinders. The point of origin of theelectromagnetic waves or earth currents is computed from the amplituderatio of the detected signals. As described in Varotsos the cylindersare vertically aligned with axes in orthogonal planes to the directionto the epicenter. Presumably, the theory is that the electromagneticwaves from seismic activity propagate radially outwardly from theepicenter of the pending quake striking the cylinders. With axes inorthogonal planes, the cylinders are oriented to expose the maximumsurface area in a direction normal to the epicenter in order to maximizethe detected potential difference. Unfortunately, Varotsos' system hasnoted that periodically earthquakes occur where there were noelectromagnetic precursors detected prior to the earthquake.

For the system taught by Varotsos, the changes in earth currentpreceding an earthquake of a given intensity must be determinedempirically for each location because the intensity changes in the earthcurrent are a result of the distance from the earthquake's epicenter,earth conductivity, and the magnitude of the quake itself, all of whichvary from location to location. This uncertainty is unacceptable for usein areas that do not experience frequent earthquakes suitable tocalibrate the detector. For regions that have infrequent but devastatingearthquakes, it would take several disasters to calibrate the detector.In addition, it is difficult to predict earthquakes if the detectors arelocated on opposing sides of a subterranean feature, such as a faultline.

Tate et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,299 disclose, a seismic warning systemusing a radio frequency energy monitor. However, such a system is notaccurate because changes in the tides and other factors influence theradio frequency field strength which requires statistical calculationsfor which it attempts to compensate. Accordingly, it is not feasible todiscriminate small seismic activity.

Takahashi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,943, discloses a system similar toVarotsos et al. that includes a three dimensional distribution of thesources and intensities of the long waves or earth currents, andpredicts the focal region, scale and time of occurrence of earthquakes.Takahashi defines the long waves and earth currents as sinusoidalmeasurements having a frequency not exceeding 300 khz. With the premisethat the waves are sinusoidal in nature, Takahashi teaches the use of anantenna for the long waves and measuring the voltage difference betweena pair of vertical cylinders for the earth currents. Further, Takahashiteaches that electromagnetic waves over 300 kHz are attenuated at0.01-1.0 dB/m and therefore seldom observed near the earth surface so noattempt is made to detect waves with higher frequencies. Accordingly,the detectors (cylinders or antennas) are located between 100 km and 500km from the epicenter depending on the earthquake size to be detected.Takahashi's method includes many of the problems associated with themethod taught by Varotsos.

Takahashi proposes that an earthquake is a sudden shifting of theearth's crust along a fault plane that occurs when the stress within thecrust comes to exceed the deformation limit. However, as the rockforming the crust of the earth is not homogeneous, small-scaledisintegration and dislocation of the rock occurs locally at pointswithin the fault plane destined to become the focal region before theearthquake actually occurs. This gives rise to electromagnetic waves(long waves and earth currents). As a result, Takahashi teaches that itbecomes possible to predict the occurrence of an earthquake from theelectromagnetic waves from the wave source region. However, this methodis further limited to about one week prior to the earthquake.

Helms, U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,611, discloses a method of detecting surfaceand subsurface anomalies of the earth using vertical currentmeasurements. The vertical current manifests itself as alternatingcurrent signals which can be measured and represents surface andsubsurface anomalies. Local variation in the detected current signalsare measured and correlated with the spatial relation to the points ofmeasurement to determine significant measurements indicative of surfaceand subterranean anomalies.

Weischedel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,804, teaches a circuit suitable foridentifying electromagnetic radiation signals caused by nucleardetonations and discriminating against false indications by lightning.The circuit is designed to detect the electromagnetic waveform from thenuclear detonation or lightning strike, as a single negative-goingwaveform. In order to detect the signal an antenna is used. If a signalis detected that exceeds a threshold magnitude, then three circuits areenabled: a zero crossover discriminator, a rise time discriminator, anda precursor discriminator. The zero threshold detector determineswhether the signal crosses the zero axis within a required time period,and if this occurs, it provides an output pulse to an "AND" gate. Therise time discriminator determines whether the signal rises to its peakwithin a required time period, and if this occurs, it provides an outputpulse to the "AND" gate. The precursor discriminator compares the peakamplitude detected with a previous signal detected, if any, occurringwithin a certain previous time. If the previous signal was detectedwithin the prescribed time period then no signal will be provided to the"AND" gate, indicative that this was lightning. If no previous signalwas detected within the prescribed time period then a signal is providedto the "AND" gate, indicative of the possibility of a nucleardetonation. The circuit of Weischedel is designed to detect nucleardetonations by sensing a single waveform and discriminate this against aprior waveform within a prescribed time period in order to discriminateagainst lightning. While suitable for lightning and nuclear detonations,this circuit is not capable of predicting earthquakes.

There are numerous systems for geophysical exploration of the earthprimarily for the detection of mineral and oil deposits. These systemsare principally based on the detection and analysis of alternatingcurrents, such as generally sinusoidal currents, from within the earth.Some systems impose a waveform into the earth, while other detectchanges in existing earth currents. Such systems include, for example;Nilsson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,940; Miller, et al. U.S. Pat. No.4,041,372; T. R. Madden et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,037; Hearn, U.S.Pat. No. 3,976,937; Barringer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,419; L. B. Slichter,U.S. Pat. No. 3,136,943; G. H. McLaughlin et al., U.S. Pat. No.3,126,510; and Weber, U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,299.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of theprior art by providing a method of detecting precursor seismicelectromagnetic waveforms and predicting future seismic activity in theform of an earthquake based thereon by placing a detector including adielectric material in contact with the earth. The detector receives atthe dielectric material precursor seismic electromagnetic waveformstraveling within the earth emanating from a region of seismic activity.A sensor responsive to the dielectric material senses a series ofindividual discrete signals imposed by the waveforms at the dielectricmaterial wherein each of the signals has the characteristic of a risetime that is shorter than its fall time. Then predicting an earthquakebased on the series of signals.

In a another embodiment of the present invention a discrete signal issensed that is characterized by a plurality of overlapping waveformswith fast rise times of both a positive and negative polarity.Predicting an earthquake based on the detection of the discretewaveforms.

The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of theinvention will be more readily understood upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a seismic detector including an accelerometer connected to amass antenna.

FIG. 2 is another seismic detector including an accelerometer isolatedwithin an enclosure.

FIG. 3 is a waveform of a pair of single phase impulses detected withthe detector of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a waveform of a multiple phase burst detected with thedetector of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of a seismic detector including metalplates partially encapsulated in epoxy together with an accelerometerencapsulated in epoxy located therebetween.

FIG. 6 is still another embodiment of a seismic detector including metalplates partially encapsulated in epoxy with a solar cell detectortherebetween.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of the preferred embodiment of theseismic detector with a block of dielectric material with three solarcells on three adjoining faces of the block, each of which is partiallyencapsulated in epoxy.

FIG. 8 is a thin seismic detector including a block of dielectricmaterial with two solar cells on two adjoining faces of the block daisychained together, each of which is partially encapsulated in epoxy.

FIG. 9 is a graph of the occurrence of SPI/MPBs and actual earthquakesdetected over time in the Mammoth Lakes, Calif. area illustrating thatthe SPI/MPBs are precursors to seismic activity.

FIGS. 10A-10Z show data from the detector of FIG. 2 showing actual SPIand MPB waveforms.

FIGS. 11A-11F show data from the detector of FIG. 1 showing an actualearthquake which was predicted by the data from FIGS. 10A-10Z.

FIGS. 12A-12J show data from the detector of FIG. 2 showing additionalSPI and MPB waveforms.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary embodiment of the prediction methodology used topredict earthquakes based on the SPI and MPB waveforms.

FIG. 14 is a step signal from an ion generator and a response from thedetectors of FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 15 is an impulse signal from an ion generator and a response fromthe detectors of FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 16 is a rectangular type signal from an ion generator and aresponse from the detectors of FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 17 is a graph of quiescent noise from a solar cell and theresulting detector output.

FIG. 18 is another embodiment of a seismic detector including a solarcell around a heat sink.

FIG. 19 is another embodiment of a seismic detector including metal tapeattached to the base of a heat sink.

FIG. 20 is a graph of SPI/MPB input and the output of the detector ofFIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a sectional side view of the detector shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is another embodiment of a seismic detector including a solarcell attached to the base of a heat sink.

FIG. 23 is a detail of the layers attached to the base of the detectorof FIG. 22.

FIGS. 24A-24K show data from the detector of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 25A-25G show data from the detector of FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present inventor started development of a seismic detector on thepremise that precursor electromagnetic waves to seismic activity existedin the form of extremely low frequency alternating electromagneticwaves, as indicated by the Stanford detector. The Stanford detector, aspreviously described, appeared to detect some sort of alternatingcurrent hum from the earth. The earth may be thought of as a conductorwhich has a skin effect (waves tend to propagate along the outer portionof a conductor) so that a detector placed in connection with the surfaceof the earth would detect the low frequency waveforms.

Referring to FIG. 1, an accelerometer 20 model 393B31, 10 V/GUltra-Quiet Seismic, available from PCB Piezotronics, was coupled with athreaded rod by the present inventor to a custom mass resonant antenna22 (21/2 inch diameter stainless steel rod) to form an ultra extremelylow frequency (UELF) electromagnetic wave detector. The junction 24between the accelerometer 20 and the antenna 22 is sealed. UELF signalsare detected in the detector from the shift in the quiescent bias pointof the accelerometer 20. The present inventor theorized that the energyin the earth would react with the mass antenna 22 to give a resultingdetectable charge in the crystal within the accelerometer 20. The resultwas a detector that produced a signal with a frequency of severalseconds to minutes, as theorized. This demonstrated the reaction of themass antenna 22 to the ultra extremely low frequency waves in the earthcrust, otherwise known as the alternating current hum. The resultingdata from this experiment was studied to detect and characterize theresulting alternating current waveform. After characterization thepresent inventor hoped to identify a precursor signature to earthquakeswhich is hopefully related to the amplitude of the impending quake.

However, periodically waves with large amplitudes would develop withinthe detector but no subsequent earthquake would occur. This meant thatthe detection scheme was unreliable for the detection of electromagneticprecursors to earthquakes. To continue development of the aforementionedseismic detector in an area where no present seismographs were located,another detector was needed to sense the actual earth movement(vibrations) resulting from earthquakes in order to validate the resultsof the electromagnetic precursor detector of FIG. 1 under development.

The present inventor selected a 393B12 10 V/G seismic accelerometer,available from PCB Piezotronics, as the earthquake validation detectorfor vibrations of the earth's surface. Referring to FIG. 2, theaccelerometer 30 was placed in a sealed enclosure 32 on a plastic block34 held by a vise 35 for thermal stability and positioned on the surfaceof the ground. The structure of the validation detector of FIG. 2 wasall mechanical so as to detect earth vibrations from earthquakes. Thedata from the vibration detector were small variations in the outputsignal as the present inventor expected, akin to a standard seismograph.However, much to the astonishment of the present inventor, in additionto the mechanical vibrational motion waveforms, there were alsowaveforms that had the appearance of discrete impulses 40 with a decaytime, having either a positive or negative polarity, as shown in FIG. 3.The rise time of the signal, in reference to signals with the generalcharacteristic of FIG. 3, refers to the time required for the signal tochange from its baseline to its maximum amplitude either in the positiveor the negative polarity of signal. Then a series of positive andnegative polarity impulses 50 were detected in rapid succession, asshown in FIG. 4. The present inventor refers to the single isolatedimpulses 50 as single phase impulses (SPIs) and the multiple impulsesthat occur in groups as multiple phase bursts (MPBs). After furtherresearch the present inventor came to the astonishing realization thatthese SPI and MPB signals actually correlated with earthquakes occurringin the range of 8 to 80 hours later. Accordingly, these SPI and MPBsignals provide an indication of an earthquake much earlier than anysystem previously developed. However, these impulse signals are unlikeanything previously detected from the earth as precursor seismicactivity and the theory for their existence is likewise unknown.

In an effort to detect additional precursor impulse waveforms toearthquakes and optimize the configuration of the detector, the presentinventor constructed several detectors similar to FIG. 2 and put themside by side, each in their own metal boxes sealed with air inside.Several of the boxes were shaped differently in order to determine ifthe shape of the box influenced the sensitivity of the detector.However, to the astonishment of the present inventor, it was noticedthat some detectors would detect most of the impulse waveforms whileadjacent detectors would not detect many of them. After muchbewilderment, the present inventor made still a further discovery thatthe surface area of the enclosure had some relationship to the abilityto detect the impulse waveforms. Then the present inventor furtherdiscovered that it was not the metal enclosure that was the primaryinfluence on the ability to detect the impulses but in fact detectionwas related to the volume, the shape of the air contained within theenclosure, and the orientation of the crystal material within theaccelerometer 30. After further consideration by the present inventor,he postulated that it was the shape of the air and the orientation ofthe crystal within the accelerometer that were the primary factorinfluencing the detection of the impulse waveforms.

The present inventor, after further consideration of the air as aprimary factor influencing the ability to detect the impulses, came tothe realization that the air contained in the container with thedetector primarily determines the decay rate of the impulse signal andits amplitude. A small volume with a large surface area has a largeamplitude with a fast decay rate, e.g. a tubular enclosure. A largevolume with a small surface area, such as a box, has a smaller amplitudewith a slower decay rate in comparison. However, it was also noticedthat the box enclosure detected these mysterious SPI and MPB waveformsmore often than the tubular enclosure.

Because some detector configurations failed to detect some of thewaveforms, the present inventor then came to still a further realizationthat the waveforms being detected are in fact polarized. Therefore, itis not enough to simply place a detector in the ground, as taught byVarotsos, but the orientation of the detector is critical. If thewaveforms are polarized such that the polarization matches the angle ofthe present inventor's tubular detector, then the tubular detector willdetect the waveforms with a large amplitude. However, if the tubulardetector is out of alignment with the polarization of the waveforms,then the waveforms will appear small or not be detectable. In contrast,a box is generally square so its orientation does not greatly change theability to detect the impulse waveforms. While the development of theearthquake sensor and prediction methodology to this stage was animprovement over the prior art, the detector is still expensive andrequires multiple high quality accelerometers, at substantial expense.

In studying lesser cost accelerometer-based sensors, the presentinventor happen to have a 321A03 general purpose accelerometer,available from PCB Piezotronics. This accelerometer is a less expensive,low cost device, that was used as part of the development. Presumably,such a device is less sensitive to the impulse waveforms than the moreexpensive devices for the detection of seismic activity. However, to theastonishment of the present inventor the inexpensive accelerometer321A03 was in fact more sensitive to some types of the mysterious SPIand MPB waveforms than a more expensive yet same-volts-per-Gaccelerometer 353B01. The present inventor thereafter examined theconstruction of the different accelerometer devices attempting todetermine what was the source of such a counterintuitive result. Thepresent inventor realized that the 321A03 accelerometer includedinternal epoxy material, which is a dielectric material, in itsconstruction in order to save expense. The more expensive 353B01detectors are hermetically sealed within a stainless steel case andcontain no epoxy. It turns out that the 393B12 seismic accelerometer hasa detection crystal that is electrically isolated from its case. Thepresent inventor then formed the connection that the dielectric epoxyacts in a manner similar to air in the enclosure which seemed to permitthe impulses to be detectable.

After determining that epoxy was one of many differences in theconstruction of the two aforementioned accelerometers, the presentinventor encapsulated a 393B12, which is a good seismic accelerometer,in epoxy. The accelerometer was used as a detector, akin to FIG. 2. Theresult was a dramatic increase in the sensitivity of the device.

With the connection to a dielectric material established as a primaryinfluence on the capability to detect the impulses a further modifieddetector was developed. Referring to FIG. 5, aluminum heat sinks 60 werepartially encapsulated in epoxy 62 (dielectric material). The 393B12accelerometer 66 is encapsulated in epoxy 64 and arranged as a columnbetween two planar sets 68a and 68b of heat sinks 60 and epoxy 62. Thepresent inventor is attempting to maximize the aluminum surface area inorder to couple the charge injection into the dielectric material 62 and64, in a manner akin to the skin surface area of the metal enclosurespreviously used by the present inventor. The present inventor postulizedthat the dielectric material, which has a much higher dielectricconstant than air, would result in greater electrostatic field thereinand maintain a polarization of charge imposed therein a longer duration.The present inventor theorized that within the accelerometer that thedielectric material develops a sudden electrostatic potential, as if thedielectric is becoming suddenly changed electrostatically (fromSPI/MPB's) and that the stainless steel body of the accelerometerattenuates this field from optimal sensing in the crystal within theaccelerometer. The present inventor then postulated that a large surfacearea crystal or equivalent reactive material could improve the receptionof weaker SPI/MPB signals were it mounted directly to the dielectricmaterial.

Referring to FIG. 6, an improved detector 70 is illustrated for thedetection of electromagnetic pulses traveling through the earth asprecursor's to seismic activity. The detector 70 is located in contactwith the ground, preferably imbedded within the ground so it can sensethe spectrally rich precursor seismic activity waveforms. The detector70 includes aluminum exterior plates 72 and 74 with internal fins 76 and77, respectively, imbedded in epoxy 78.

The detector is designed to be highly sensitive to the impulsewaveforms. The mass of the earth resonates the precursor impulse energyat resonant frequencies which are matched by the dielectric material. Inessence, there is a transfer of the precursor electromagnetic impulsewaveforms from the earth to the aluminum 72 and 74 and further injectedinto the epoxy 78. The electric field generated within the dielectricmaterial presents itself to a photovoltaic (solar) cell 80 containedwithin the epoxy 78. The cell 80 detects the ejection of electricalcharge and produces a corresponding proportional voltage. The preferredcell material is a solar cell from Iowa Thin Film Technologies, 2501North Loop Drive, Ames, Iowa 50010. The solar cell has a PIN lateralconstruction. The P referring to P type semiconductor, the I referringto an intrinsic layer such as a high quality insulator, and the N refersto N type semiconductor. The intrinsic material helps to preventdegradation of the PN junction over time. The PIN material is adhered toa base of polyamide plastic insulating material with a lower stainlesssteel layer. The PN junction is externally reversed biased to provide astable and balanced leakage current condition through the PN junction.Small changes in the voltage imposed on the P type material changes theleakage current and thus the electromagnetic waves are detectable. Inaddition, the higher internal resistance of the insulating materialprovides a better dynamic signal range. A pair of electrical connectors77a and 77b interconnect the cell 80 to an instrument 79 suitable torecord and analyze the data.

The present inventor found that a very large increase in sensitivity toSPI and MPB impulses resulted. However, the design of FIG. 6 lacks thedetection of some polarized SPIs/MPBs because there is only one solarcell in one orientation.

The result is an inexpensive detector that is immune to mechanicalvibrations from surrounding activity, such as road traffic, walking,trucks, etc., to which the sensitive accelerometers reacted to. Inaddition, is has been determined that the detector is also immune tonormal electromagnetic currents within the earth, such as 60 hertzcurrents, which permits the detector to be located in electrically noisyareas, such as cities.

Unfortunately, there exists no satisfactory theory in the literature forwhy such spontaneous SPI and MPB electromagnetic impulse signals shouldemanate during the time preceding an earthquake. A coil-based detectorwould seem to indicate that the waveforms should be low frequency and ofan alternating current nature, as other scientists have thought whenattempting to design a detector, although with limited success. Withouta theory for the basis of SPI and MPB bursts, scientists have nomotivation to search for or examine any impulse type electromagneticsignals as a means of predicting the occurrence of earthquakes,presuming that the scientist believes they exist at all.

The present inventor is unsure of the origin of the electromagneticbursts but proposes the following basic theory for their origin. Thetremendous pressure and other phenomena associated with earthquakeconditions causes an implosion of matter, some of which is converted toenergy. The energy source may come from what is referred to as thezero-point energy of matter. Zero-point energy refers to a special classof ether theories which describe space as a sea of fluctuating energy.Quantum physics predicts that vacuum fluctuations exist and gives themthe name of zero-point energy. The words "zero-point" refer to the factthat these fluctuations persist even at zero degrees Kelvin. By mergingtheories of the zero-point energy with the theories of systemself-organization, it becomes theoretically possible to cohere thezero-point energy as a source. The theory of self-organizationidentifies the conditions for self-induced coherence. The system must benonlinear, far from equilibrium, and have an energy flux through it. Thedynamics of the zero-point energy and its interaction with matter arenonlinear. The zero-point energy can be driven from its equilibrium withabrupt motions of matter (e.g., electric discharges), and it may be amanifestation of an electrical flux that flows orthogonally through ourthree dimensional space from a hyperspace. The dynamics of thezero-point energy can fulfill the conditions for self-organization. Adescription of zero-point energy is provided in Tapping The Zero-PointEnergy by Moray B. King, and is incorporated herein by reference.

The zero-point energy likely manifests itself as a low frequencyelectromagnetic wave with high frequency signals superimposed thereonand traveling through matter itself. Earth forces, such as tectonicplate movement, create intense pressure points within the crust, andmore often near faults in the crust. At a critical point of the rightconditions (pressure, heat, mass) a "mass" implosion occurs. Because ofthe tremendous pressures, heat, etc. developed during electromagneticburst activity, the electromagnetic waves produced are saturated overthe frequency spectrum. Another way to consider the waves are as beingspectrally rich, e.g. having an extensive number of individual frequencycomponents, not merely a range of low frequency signals as the standarddetector attempts to detect. The waveforms produced may even be sospectrally rich as to have nearly all (or all) of the frequencies in theentire spectrum within a given range, such as 0 hertz to severalgigahertz.

The duration of these precursor electromagnetic waves or impulses arenot of a long duration as the Stanford device would suggest. Instead itturns out that the electromagnetic waves are in the form of single phaseimpulse (SPI) and multiphase bursts (MPB) that are very transitional innature. The present inventor has determined that the generally observedduration of these bursts varies depending on the detector but the risetime is normally less than 40 milliseconds. Accordingly, the detectorhas to be designed to detect and record activity that has an extremelyshort time duration, as opposed to a waveform that has a long duration.Prior electro-magnetic detectors that attempt to detect long durationwaveforms over many slow alternating cycles detect little, if anything,of earthquake precursor activity because they were not designed todetect the impulse signal for which previous designers did not knowexisted.

It is also the present inventor's theory that the alternating currentprecursors are the result of the impulses over time that the presentinventor discovered and correlated with precursor seismic activity. Theimpulses induce slow pressure variations in the crust of the earth thatmanifest themselves as AC electromagnetic waves.

With spectrally rich electromagnetic waveforms the objective is toproduce as many ions as possible, which result in extensive momentaryelectron charge movement, in the dielectric material of the detector.The photo-electric effect and "band-theory" teaches that selectedwavelengths of signals are needed to excite electrons from low valencelevels to higher valence levels, and to remove the electron from theatom. This energization of electrons results in ions and the movement ofelectrons within the dielectric that are detectable as impulses. With aspectrally rich electro-magnetic waveform emanating from a futurelocation of seismic activity, the required frequencies are readilymatched for most any dielectric material.

A conceptually analogous phenomena occurs in the incandescence of asolid. When atoms are close-packed, as in a solid, electrons of theouter orbits make transitions not only within the energy levels of their"parent atoms," but also between the levels of neighboring atoms. Theseenergy-level transitions are no longer well known, but are affected byinteractions between neighboring atoms, resulting in an infinite varietyof energy-level differences--hence the infinite number of radiationfrequency. The same impulses in the earth from seismic activity can bethought of in the same conceptual way, except that instead of light,there is a large variety of electromagnetic energy levels that aretransmitted through the mass of the earth.

The present inventor desired to characterize the difference in theability to detect the SPI/MPB impulse waveforms with respect to first, adetector with dielectric material and metal plates (FIG. 6), and second,a dielectric material without the metal plates. The present inventorconstructed a square block of epoxy without metal plates andencapsulated a solar cell therein. The present inventor was startled torealize that dielectric material alone strongly responded to the SPI/MPBimpulses. The preferred epoxy material for all the sensors (dielectricmaterial) is 3M DP270 Potting Compound which is a good insulator with ahigh dielectric constant. It turns out that the dielectric materialitself has a strong reaction to the impulses, so the charge injunctionfrom the metal plates turns out not to be a primary factor in thedetection of SPI and MPB waveforms.

Referring to FIG. 7, based on the aforementioned experiment thepreferred precursor seismic detector includes a block of dielectricmaterial 81. The preferred dielectric material 81 is an acrylic plastic,which has a high dielectric constant, consistent crystalline structure,and uniform charge development as a result of the impulses. A set ofsolar cells 82a, 82b, and 82c, such as the solar cell previouslydescribed from Iowa Thin Films, are located on three adjacent sides tothe same corner of the dielectric material 81. The cells 82a, 82b, and82c are secured with a thin layer 84a, 84b, and 84c, of 3M DP270 PottingCompound, respectively. The top cell 82a reacts most strongly toimpulses with polarization in the `z` direction. The right side cell 82breacts most strongly to impulses with polarization in the `x` direction.The left side cell 82c reacts most strongly to impulses withpolarization in the `y` direction. By measuring the resulting signals oneach set of lines 86a, 86b, and 86c from each of the solar cells 82a,82b, and 82c, respectively, the absolute magnitude of the impulse can bedetermined without reference to its polarization. The combination of thesignals on each line 86a-86c also provides an indication of the locationof source of the potential earthquake.

Referring to FIG. 8, a further alternative embodiment of the detector ofFIG. 7 involves using several thin slice detectors 90, each with a solarcell 92a and 92b on a pair of adjoining edges that are daisy chainedtogether. A group of detectors 90 are arranged in a hemisphericalarrangement with a signal line from each to a central instrument(computer) 79. The polarization of an electromagnetic waveform isperpendicular to its direction of travel. Accordingly, by selecting thesensor with the greatest magnitude output signal, the source of theprecursor seismic activity is known as the perpendicular direction tothe plane of the particular detector 90.

Referring to FIG. 9, the present inventor compared the number of eventsdetected for both actual earthquakes from a seismograph and SPIs/MPBsfrom a detector, as shown in FIG. 6, recorded in the Mammoth Lakes,Calif. area over time. The earthquake data was obtained from UnitedStates government seismographs. More specifically, the U.S. Council ofthe National Seismic System [CNSS]. The slope of the number of eventsfor the SPIs/MPBs and earthquakes versus time correlate closely. A knee100 occurred in the frequency of occurrence of precursor SPIs/MPBs inearly August 1996. A knee 102 occurred in the frequency of theoccurrence of actual earthquake activity 1.8 hours after the knee 100from the precursor detector. Accordingly, the knees 100 and 102 (FIG. 9)provide empirical data to support the fact that the SPI/MPB waveformsare actually precursors to future seismic activity.

Referring to FIGS. 10A-10Z graphical measurement data from a precursorseismic detector, as shown in FIG. 2, was obtained over several daysfrom the Mammoth Lakes area. The upper portion of the data has avertical scale of 0.1 volts per dot and a horizontal scale of 2.4seconds per dot. The lower portion of the data has a vertical scale of 2millivolts per dot and a horizontal scale of 2.4 seconds per dot. Theupper and lower portions of the graph are the same signal with differentvertical scaling factors. A series of SPI impulses 110a-110h weredetected predicting the occurrence of future seismic activity. The risetime of the SPI impulses 110a-110h are very short, indicating anextremely fast rise, such as less than 20 to 40 milliseconds. The decaytime of the SPI impulses 110a-110h is significantly longer than the risetime, with a generally exponential decay which the present inventorbelieves is primarily dependent on the properties of the dielectricmaterial and the nature of the frequency spectrum of the particularimpulse. Shortly after the series of SPIs 110a-110h, a MPB burst 112occurred followed by SPI impulses 114a and 114b. The occurrence ofseveral significant SPIs and/or a MPB(s) predict the occurrence offuture seismic activity.

Referring to FIGS. 11A-11F, graphical measurement data from a precursorseismic detector, as shown in FIG. 1, was obtained from a detectorlocated in the Mammoth Lakes area during a later time period, such asseveral days, as FIGS. 10A-10Z. A plurality of SPI impulses 120a-120dpredict the occurrence of a future earthquake, although not necessarilywaveform 124, as described below. The impulses as detected by thedetector of FIG. 1 are very narrow in nature, approximately 40milliseconds or less in duration. Referring specifically to FIG. 11E,waveform 124 is the occurrence of an actual earthquake, which correlatedwith United States government earthquake data of a 2.8 earthquake at thesame time. The 2.8 earthquake 124 was 40.8 hours after the MPB burst112, which is the primary prediction factor for an earthquake. Theearthquake generally occurs from 8 to 80 hours after the MPB burst. Inaddition, the mass detector, as shown in FIG. 1, periodically produces awavy base waveform 130 indicative of pressure within the earth's plates.

Referring to FIGS. 12A-12J, additional SPI and MPB waveforms detected bythe detector constructed in accordance with FIG. 2 are shown. AdditionalSPIs 124a-124e were detected, some of which include overshooting such asSPIs 124a and 124e. Additional MPBs 126a, 126b, and 126c were detectedand are generally characterized by multiple impulses within a short timeframe not discrete from one another. Waveform 128 could be categorizedas either a SPI or MPB.

Referring to FIG. 13 the present inventor has developed a specifictechnique for prediction of earthquakes based on SPI and MPB precursorseismic waveforms as shown in FIGS. 10A-10Z, 11A-11F, and 12A-12J. Point200 is the occurrence of a MPB or a large SPI waveform and designed attime index 0.0. Time index 0.0 is calculated by the [ln(1)]*T1. T1 isthe time from the MPB or large SPI waveform until the future quakesurfaces. After the MPB burst there is normally a series of severalsmall narrow SPI waveforms detected which indicates time point A2. PointA2 is calculated by the [ln(1)]*T2. T2 is the time of duration ofsmaller narrower SPI waveforms. The small narrow SPI waveforms normallyincrease in magnitude and then decay again to a point C2 that is similarto that of point A2. The point of greatest magnitude is B2. Point B2 iscalculated by [ln(2)]*T2 which is generally 63% of the length of time ofT2. Point C2 is calculated by [ln(3)]*T2. Point B2 is point 202 which iscalculated by [ln(2)]*T1 and generally 63% of the length of T1. With thepoint 202 defined then the duration of time T1 can be estimated and thepoint 204 {[ln(3)]*T1} when the quake will surface is calculated as apredictor. Other detection methods may likewise be used, based on theoccurrence of SPIs and/or MPBs.

Unfortunately, the solar cells of the detectors shown in FIGS. 7 and 8are susceptible to physical damage if not protected against inadvertentimpact. Moreover, the present inventor realized that the clear nature(translucent and/or transparent) of the acrylic plastic dielectric issusceptible to photoelectric effects which could corrupt measurementsmade from solar cells supported thereon. The solar cells shown in FIGS.7 and 8 may be encased within 3M DP 270 potting compound (black epoxy)to both protect the solar cells from inadvertent impact and providestrain relief for wires connected to the solar cells. In addition, theblack epoxy coating does not transmit light which eliminates thesusceptibility of the acrylic plastic dielectric to photoelectriceffects.

Unfortunately, acrylic plastic is relatively expensive so an alternativedielectric medium is desirable. In testing cost optimized designs, suchas epoxy blocks with solar cells encapsulated therein (without acrylic),the present inventor noted that the impulse signal response for the sameseismic precursor varied from detector to detector. Such variability inthe impulse signal response has several drawbacks. First, if the impulsesignals are small then they may be difficult to accurately detect.Second, the signal response variability of the impulse signals mayexceed the dynamic range of the detector. Third, if the amplitude is toolarge then the detector may saturate thereby resulting in inaccuratemeasurements. Fourth, calibration to compensate for the variabilitybetween detectors would require the development and implementation of aset of data tables and circuitry within the instrument, at addedexpense.

To reduce the variability between detectors, measures were taken toattempt to ensure that the detectors were identically constructed.Unexpectedly, the variability in measurements between the detectorsremained. The present inventor conducted a study on clear 3M DP 270clear epoxy (in contrast to dark 3M DP 270 potting compound epoxy) andnoticed that light was distorted at points and regions within curedclear epoxy. The distortion of the light results from variability in thecrystalline alignment (nonuniformity) of the clear epoxy. The presentinventor realized that the nonuniformity in the crystalline alignment isprimarily the result of heat generated during the curing process of theepoxy. After investigating the curing process of clear epoxy and thensubsequently 3M DP 270 potting compound, the present inventor came tothe revelation that the impulse signals are sensitive to anisotropiccharacteristics (nonuniform dipole alignment reaction from impulsedirection and/or orientation, and impulse polarization) from thevariations in the crystalline structure of the dielectric materialbetween detectors. Experiments attempting to control the curing processfor 3M DP 270 failed to provide adequate results. With the realizationthat impulse signals are sensitive to anisotropic characteristics, aninexpensive uniform crystalline structure (isotropic) dielectric for thedetector is desirable. Further, the detector still should have opaqueexterior material to prevent the detector from reacting to light.

Based on earlier experiments, such as the detector shown in FIG. 2, thepresent inventor realized that impulse responses are sensitive to thevolume of the enclosure, the surface area of the enclosure, and theshape of the detector. Based on such experiments, the present inventordetermined that air provides a dielectric medium that responds toSPI/MPB impulses, albeit weaker than a solid dielectric. The presentinventor then decided to attempt to design a suitable detector using agaseous based dielectric, such as air, which the inventor postulatedwould react to SPI/MPB impulses in an isotropic manner from detector todetector. The isolation of isotropic media as a significant factor inthe detection of impulses provided the motivation for attempting toimprove the weak impulse response characteristics of air. To design sucha gaseous based detector, the present inventor used his knowledge thatthe ratio of the surface area of the enclosure of the detector to thevolume of air contained therein related to the amplitude of the impulsereaction, similar to the detector shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, the presentinventor realized that the surface area of the dielectric interfacedwith metal (metal facilitates ionization charge injection) has arelationship to the impulse reaction, similar to the detector shown inFIG. 6. Experiments were conducted using various multiangular designs ofenclosed air adjoining metal surface material in order to attempt tooptimize the impulse response characteristics for all orientations andimpulse polarizations. Another factor considered in such designs wasattempting to concentrate the ionization charge potential because theair based dielectric tends to quickly disperse such impulse signalswithin the dielectric volume. Concentrating the ionization attempts toincrease the sensitivity lost by not using a solid dielectric medium,such as epoxy, in which the impulse signals are not as quicklydispersed.

One of the principal problems in calibrating and designing suchdetectors is that actual earthquakes are required to test and stimulatethe device. Earthquakes by their nature are infrequent and occur in anuncontrolled fashion. The solar cells were sorted by reverse biasvoltage characteristics and luminance response but unfortunately stillproduced different responses to SPI/MPB impulse signals. Such sortingshould have adequately sorted the solar cells to provide consistentresults, but failed to do so. The present inventor then came to therealization that the solar cells in an electrostatic condition stillneed a charge differential to accumulate and strip off electrons withrespect to other regions of the solar cells. Based on the aforementionedzero-point theory, the present inventor postulates that mass itself actsas a standing wave of energy with the mass itself ionized in thedirection of the wave. With the postulation that SPI/MPB impulse signalsare a form of zero-point energy, the mass of the detector and solar cellis then ionizing. This explains, at least in part, why a soliddielectric responds with a greater magnitude than a gaseous dielectricbecause a solid dielectric has more mass to ionize. Based on the premiseof the ionization of the mass of the detector, the present inventortested an ion generator to stimulate an impulse response. Most of thedetectors were sensitive to the ion flow from an ion generator. Allother electromagnetic signal sources tested by the present inventorfailed to stimulate the detector.

Referring to FIG. 14, a step signal from an ion generator received by adetector, such as those shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, provides an outputequivalent to an SPI signal. The end of the SPI signal returns to zeroas the charge differential balances even from a continuous chargeinjection from the ion generator. Referring to FIG. 15, an impulse typesignal from an ion generator received by a detector, such as those shownin FIGS. 7 and 8, provides an output equivalent to an SPI signal.Referring to FIG. 16, a rectangular type signal from an ion generatorreceived by a detector, such as those shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, providesan output equivalent to an MPB signal. The leading edge of therectangular type signal provides an SPI signal in a positive direction(or alternatively negative) while the falling edge of the rectangulartype signal provides an SPI signal in a negative direction (oralternatively positive), resulting in the MPB waveform. The result isthat the ion generator provides an equivalent waveform output from thedetector, similar to precursor electromagnetic type waveforms.Accordingly, the ion generator may be used to calibrate and testdetectors.

The solar cells have a quiescent noise value when reversed biased whichthe present inventor determined correlates directly with the sensitivityof the sensor and thus the magnitude of the resulting impulse. Forexample referring to FIG. 17, a quiescent noise value of 3 may result inan impulse value of 30 with a given precursor waveform. Likewise, aquiescent noise value of 0.3 would result in an impulse value of 3 withthe same given precursor waveform. The scale factor between thequiescent noise value and the impulse magnitude is essentially the samefor different quiescent noise values. The result is that the sensors canbe sorted based on their quiescent noise values to select solar cellsthat provide similar results to precursor electromagnetic waveforms.This result was determined based on tests using the ion generator tosimulate precursor seismic activity. Without the ion generatorequivalence, verifying the existence of such a scale factor would havebeen difficult, if not impossible, because of the multitude of factorsthat influence the response of the detectors.

In attempting to develop gaseous based dielectric detectors, aspreviously described, the present inventor realized that metal reacts incooperation with a solid dielectric to generate a charge potential froman SPI/MPB impulse, where the potential on the surface of the metalquickly balances as the impulse terminates. Referring again to FIG. 6for example, this occurs by the metal injecting ions into the dielectricupon receiving an SPI/MPB impulse. Based on this realization, thepresent inventor postulated that metal could therefore inject ions intoa gaseous dielectric medium, such as air. To increase the effect of theion (charge) injection into air, it is desirable to maximize the metalsurface area per unit air volume. This results in significant ionizationcharge injection into the gas dielectric during the impulse. The presentinventor further postulated that an array of metal fingers would reactin an analogous manner to a phased array of antennas, except in thereverse sense by receiving as opposed to transmitting. Such an array ofmetal fingers is readily available in the form of heat sinks forcomputer electronic devices. The heat sink is located within anenclosure that is preferably sealed and non-conductive to maintain theair in proximity to the heat sink. The large number of closely spacedfingers affords a large surface area capable of increased chargeinjection into the gas dielectric, namely air.

Referring to the detector shown in FIG. 18, a flexible thin film solarcell 300 is positioned above and curving around two sides of a heat sink302 with a spacing of 0.1 inches apart from the tips 303 of the fingers304 of the heat sink 302. The heat sink 302 is located within a plasticenclosure 350. Testing the detector of FIG. 18 with a set of ionimpulses confirmed the omnidirectionality and multi-polarizationcapability of the detector, similar to a phased antenna array.Unfortunately, a significant problem still persisted in that theamplitude reaction remained small due to the ionization charge dispersalwithin the air before the near-field reaction with the solar cell 300(modulation of depletion region from the reversed biased PIN junction ofthe solar cell via instrument 306). In other words, the couplingmechanism from the heat sink 302 through the air to the solar cell 300remained too small for optimal performance.

While the SPI/MPB impulses may be detected and measured by a solar cellin the proximity of metal through a dielectric, such as a gas or asolid, the present inventor postulated that there is in fact a fast riseand a fast fall of the voltage potential on the metal surfacesthemselves resulting from the impulse signal.

Seeking to detect the charge differential at the surface of the metalfingers 304 of the heat sink 302, instead of at a distance away, thedetector of FIG. 18 was modified. Referring to FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 amodified detector design was thus constructed consisting of a fastresponse/slow decay amplifier 319 and full wave rectifier 320. Creatingdifferential reference inputs to the amplifier 319 was accomplished bymounting a strip of 3M foil tape 322 on the base of an anodized heatsink 324. The tape 322 forms an alternating-current electrical path tothe heat sink 324. The tape 322 provides a consistent way of obtaining areference voltage and is convenient because a wire 325 may be readilysoldered to the tape 322. The anodized surface of the heat sink 324results in a capacitance between the tape 322 and the metal of the heatsink 324. The advantage of such a capacitance is that if the electricmeasuring circuit (amplifier 319 and full wave rectifier 320) requires abias voltage then one lead may be biased. The fingers 328 of the heatsink 324 are preferably sprayed with an exterior conductiveelectromagnetic interference material (EMI) and one of the fingers 328is connected to an input to the amplifier 319. The EMI material providesboth a highly conductive surface adjacent to the air and a poroussurface which increases the ion injection into the air. Since SPI/MPBimpulses have a fast rising edge and a somewhat slower falling edge, thefull wave rectifier 320 translates the impulse into a sharp rising edge340 and a slower falling edge decay 342, as shown in FIG. 20. Theamplifier 319 preferably has a very high input impedance to permitdetection of weak charges from small SPI/MPB impulses.

Another alternative design involves elimination of the 3M foil tape anddirectly attaching the wire to the base of the heat sink 324. Theannodization may be eliminated, if desired, and both of the wire leadsconnected directly to either the metal of the heat sink or the EMIcoating (if used). In such a design the voltage differential will beobservable between two different portions of the same conductive memberwithout the construction of a capacitance therebetween. The amplifier319 would then be redesigned to not require a bias reference voltage. Inessence, the design may involve only a conductive member and anenclosure.

Although the 3M foil tape provides a differential reference at thelesser surface area per adjoining unit air area of the anodized aluminumheat sink base, the reference at the tape is still influenced by thesame charge reaction of the metal ejecting charge. To leverage thereaction of the ion charge injection into the gas dielectric, the innersurface of the plastic enclosure 350 is preferably lined with 3M foiltape. An impulse generates a charge cloud of ions around the fingers ofthe heat sink. The ion cloud thus generated is postulated by the presentinventor to be attracted to the internal conductive foil tape lining forthe duration of the impulse. Upon impulse termination the ion cloud thenredistributes resulting in a larger detectable voltage difference acrossthe heat sink itself and the internal conductive coating. To furtherintensify the near-field reaction, the conductive foil tape is alsoelectrically connected by a wire 352 to the internal foil tape lining.The ion intensity is greater at the fingers of the heat sink from thegreater mass adjacent to the air in relation to the metal tape.Accordingly, a field potential difference from the heat sink fingers andthe inner conductive liner acts to pull the ion field away from thefingers in addition to the mutual charge repulsions of the ionsthemselves. After the SPI/MPB impulse, recombination of the charge field(ion field) will cause a difference in potential between the internallining and the heat sink.

The detector shown in FIG. 19, especially with the foil tape lining, wasfound to be superior to the detector shown in FIG. 18. Referring toFIGS. 22 and 23, a further alternative detector design uses a solar cell400 sandwiched between 3M foil tape 402 and the base of the heat sink404 held in place with clear dual adhesive tape 406. The foil tape 402is connected to the internal 3M foil tape lining by a wire 407. Thecharge differential immediate to the surfaces of the solar cell 400results in an inherent high speed detector of impulses with a slow speeddecay similar to the amplifier 319 and full wave rectifier 320 withoutthe additional expense of the amplifier electronics. The solar cell 400also has the advantage of a low impedance output allowing the detectorto forego buffering with the amplifier. This also provides noisetolerance where the detector is buried in ground and the cable to theinstrument is a significant distance away.

It is to be understood that the use of the solar cell or other devicesthat include a PN junction (or similar junction sensitive to ion fields)together with air (plus enclosure), a metal (enclosure not required), ora solid mass (enclosure not required) provides the preferred structurefor mass ionization and detection.

The present inventor came to a startling realization that SPI/MPBimpulses are in fact detectable above the surface of the ground. Infact, the SPI/MPB impulses propagate in a region of the atmosphere ingeneral proximity to the ground. A differential in air propagationversus ground propagation provides a method of detecting distances tothe earthquake. Initial tests appear to indicate that there isapproximately a 1 μsec per kilometer difference between a detectorlocated above the ground (sensor at approximately 15-20 ft above ground)and an "in ground" detector.

Direction determination from using multiple detectors in the ground (orabove) spaced a distance apart, allows SPI/MPB detection at slightlydifferent times which yields the direction of the quake. Fast responseamplifiers and high speed time differential circuitry are needed. Timedifferences are measured in the nanosecond to hundreds of picosecondrange depending on distances between detectors.

The present inventor postulates that the metal detectors with an airdielectric operate in the following manner. The SPI/MPB impulse signalstrikes both the air of the detector and the metal. The air itselfreacts to the SPI/MPB impulse signal by weakly ionizing. The metal hasexcess electrons and has a relatively strong ionization reaction to theSPI/MPB impulse signal. The significant surface area of the metalfingers of the heat sink injects a significant number of ions into theadjoining air, thus changing the voltage potential of the fingers. Thebottom of the heat sink eject a smaller number of ions than the fingers,and thus changes the voltage differential at the base a lesser amount.The ions are disbursed within the air and repel against one anotherforming a net flow of electrons away from the base of the heat sink. TheSPI/MPB impulse terminates and the metal nearly instantaneouslyrebalances the charge imbalance created by the SPI/MPB impulse signal.The ions in the air recombine with the metal. The differential in theion generation is thus measured as a voltage differential, and thus thedetection of the SPI/MPB impulse signal.

The detector of FIGS. 19 and 21 detected SPI/MPB waveforms as shown inFIGS. 24A-24K in the lower strip of recordings. The detector of FIGS. 22and 23 detected SPI/MPB waveforms as shown in FIGS. 25A-25G in the upperstrip of recordings.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoingspecification are used therein as terms of description and not oflimitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms andexpressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown anddescribed or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of theinvention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

I claim:
 1. A method of detecting precursor seismic electromagneticwaveforms and predicting future seismic activity in the form of anearthquake based thereon, comprising the steps of:(a) locating adetector including at least one of a dielectric material and aconductive material in proximity with the earth; (b) receiving withinsaid at least one of said dielectric material and said conductivematerial in said proximity with said earth precursor seismicelectromagnetic waveforms emanating from a region of seismic activity;(c) sensing with a sensor responsive to said receiving said precursorseismic electromagnetic waveforms with said at least one of saiddielectric material and said conductive material a series of individualdiscrete signals imposed by said waveforms at said at least one of saiddielectric material and said conductive material, said each of saidsignals having the characteristic of a rise time that is shorter thanits fall time; and (d) predicting based on said series of said signalsthe occurrence of said earthquake.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein eachof said signals has only one of a positive and a negative polarity. 3.The method of claim 1 wherein said rise time is nearly vertical.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said fall time is generally exponential innature.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a solar cell. 6.The method of claim 1 wherein said sensor is an accelerometer connectedto an elongated metal bar detector.
 7. The method of claim 1 whereinsaid sensor senses a shift in the quiescent bias point of saidaccelerometer.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said rise time issubstantially shorter than said fall time.
 9. The method of claim 1wherein said dielectric material has a plurality of sides, a pluralityof said sensors each of which is attached to one of said plurality ofsides, and further comprising the step of sensing with said plurality ofsensors said signals.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said dielectricmaterial has six sides and only three of said sides has an attached saidsensor.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said rise time is the elapsedtime prior from zero to the absolute value of a maximum amplitude ofsaid signal either in the positive or negative polarity direction.
 12. Amethod of detecting precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms andpredicting future seismic activity in the form of an earthquake basedthereon, comprising the steps of:(a) locating a detector including atleast one of a dielectric material and a conductive material inproximity with the earth; (b) receiving within said at least one of saiddielectric material and said conductive material in proximity with saidearth precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms emanating from aregion of seismic activity; (c) sensing with a sensor responsive to saidreceiving said precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms within saidat least one of said dielectric material and said conductive material adiscrete signal imposed by said waveforms at said at least one of saiddielectric material and said conductive material characterized by aplurality of overlapping waveforms with multiple sharp transitionsbetween both a positive and negative polarity; and (d) predicting basedon said discrete signal the occurrence of said earthquake.
 13. A methodof detecting precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms and predictingfuture seismic activity in the form of an earthquake based thereon,comprising the steps of:(a) locating a detector including at least oneof a dielectric material and a conductive material in proximity with theearth; (b) receiving within said at least one of said dielectricmaterial and said conductive material in proximity with said earthprecursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms emanating from a region ofseismic activity; (c) sensing with a sensor responsive to said receivingsaid precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms within said at leastone of said dielectric material and said conductive material a series ofindividual discrete signals imposed by said waveforms at said at leastone of said dielectric material and said conductive material, said eachof said signals having the characteristic of a rise time that isgenerally less than 40 milliseconds in duration; and (d) predictingbased on said series of said signals the occurrence of said earthquake.14. The method of claim 13 wherein each of said signal has only one of apositive and a negative polarity.
 15. The method of claim 13 whereinsaid rise time is nearly vertical.
 16. The method of claim 13 whereinsaid fall time is generally exponential in nature.
 17. The method ofclaim 13 wherein said sensor is a solar cell.
 18. The method of claim 13wherein said sensor is an accelerometer connected to an elongated metalbar.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said sensor is the quiescentbias point of said accelerometer.
 20. The method of claim 13 whereinsaid rise time is substantially shorter than said fall time.
 21. Themethod of claim 20 wherein said dielectric material has a plurality ofsides, a plurality of said sensors each of which is attached to one ofsaid plurality of sides, and further comprising the step of sensing withsaid plurality of sensors said signals.
 22. The method of claim 21wherein said dielectric material has six sides and only three of saidsides has an attached said sensor.
 23. The method of claim 13 whereinsaid rise time is the elapsed time prior from zero to the absolute valueof a maximum amplitude of said signal either in the positive or negativepolarity direction.
 24. A method of detecting precursor seismicelectromagnetic waveforms and predicting future seismic activity in theform of an earthquake based thereon, comprising the steps of:(a)locating a detector including at least one of a dielectric material anda conductive material in proximity with the earth; (b) receiving withinsaid at least one of said dielectric material and said conductivematerial in proximity with said earth precursor seismic electromagneticwaveforms emanating from a region of seismic activity; (c) sensing witha sensor responsive to said receiving said precursor seismicelectromagnetic waveforms with said at least one of said dielectricmaterial and said conductive material a discrete signal imposed by saidwaveforms at said at least one of said at least one of said dielectricmaterial and said conductive material characterized by a plurality ofoverlapping waveforms with a rise time of generally less than 40milliseconds of both a positive and negative polarity; and (d)predicting based on said discrete signal the occurrence of saidearthquake.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein said precursor seismicelectromagnetic waveforms at least one of travel within said earth andin proximity with said earth.
 26. A method of detecting precursorseismic electromagnetic waveforms and predicting future seismic activityin the form of an earthquake based thereon, comprising the steps of:(a)locating a detector in proximity with the earth; (b) receiving with saiddetector precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms emanating from aregion of seismic activity; (c) sensing with a sensor in response tosaid receiving said precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms aplurality of signals, where each of said signals are characterized by atleast one of;(i) each of said signals having the characteristic of arise time that is shorter than its fall time; (ii) each of said signalsincluding overlapping waveforms with multiple sharp transitions betweenboth a positive and a negative polarity; (iii) each of said signalshaving the characteristic of a rise time that is generally less than 40milliseconds in duration; and (iv) each of said signals including aplurality of overlapping waveforms with a rise time of generally lessthan 40 milliseconds of both a positive and negative polarity; (d)predicting based on said signals the occurrence of said earthquake. 27.The method of claim 26 wherein said detector includes at least one of adielectric medium, a conductive medium, and a gaseous medium withinwhich said precursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms are received. 28.The method of claim 26 wherein said precursor seismic electromagneticwaveforms travel within said earth.
 29. The method of claim 26 whereinsaid detector is in contact with said earth.
 30. A method of detectingprecursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms and predicting futureseismic activity in the form of an earthquake based thereon, comprisingthe steps of:(a) sensing at least one signal responsive to precursorseismic electromagnetic waveforms with a sensor, where said at least onesignal is characterized by at least one of;(i) said at least one signalhaving the characteristic of a rise time that is shorter than its falltime; (ii) said at least one signal including overlapping waveforms withmultiple sharp transitions between both a positive and a negativepolarity; (iii) said at least one signal having the characteristic of arise time that is generally less than 40 milliseconds in duration; and(iv) said at least one signal including a plurality of overlappingwaveforms with a rise time of generally less than 40 milliseconds ofboth a positive and negative polarity; (d) predicting based on said atleast one signal the occurrence of said earthquake.
 31. The method ofclaim 30 wherein said detector includes at least one of a dielectricmedium, a conductive medium, and a gaseous medium within which saidprecursor seismic electromagnetic waveforms are received.
 32. The methodof claim 30 wherein said precursor seismic electromagnetic waveformstravel within said earth.
 33. The method of claim 30 wherein saiddetector is in contact with said earth.